News and blog

Hello Farmers Market Fans

I want to alert you all to a special event that is occurring tomorrow (Sunday March 24th).  Slow Food Pittsburgh is sponsoring a fund raiser for the "Better Cheese for Pittsburgh" Cheese Scholarship.  The event is at Legume Bistro.  Food and drinks will be prepared by some of the best restaurant people in Pittsburgh.  Everyone involved is donating their time.  Legume owners Trevett and Sarah Hooper are making their restaurant available for the event.  

In addition to all the chefs and mixologists who have given their time and talent, four cheese makers will be there in person to share samples, stories, and sell their cheese.

It's a cocktail party format and runs from 5 to 7 pm.  Forty dollars includes appetizers, cocktails, tax and tip.  This is a great value considering all the food and cocktails that will be served at the event.  Please check out the website for more information.

http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/calendar/sous-chefs-cook-for-a-cause-better-cheese-for-pittsburgh

I hope you can make it.  Please also help spread the word.

David

**************************************************************************************************

Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, March 23rd

The market will be open as usual this Saturday.  Please read below for the weekly update.

I would like to mention that the 7th Annual Farm to Table event is this weekend at the David Lawrence Convention Center.  The Farmers Market Coop of East Liberty will have a booth at the the event this year.  So if you are able to make it, please stop by and say hello.

The event is happening today and tomorrow, from 10 am until 5.  Tickets are $15 and are available online or at the door.  There is also a special food tasting event this evening.  Check out the website for more information:

http://farmtotablepa.com/conference.

See you at the market- David Lagnese

******************************************************************************************
The Update....

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

Special items for this week include....

- HAM SLICES
- MANY SAUSAGE VARIETIES
- EYE OF ROUND...ROLLED RUMP...ARM/SHOULDER ROASTS

**PLEASE place your Easter pick up order for next week A.S.A.P. since we are open on just Saturdays, we need to plan ahead to have your local meat products ready for your special occassion.

**please keep phone call orders and any messages to ring in during our business hours of 9-9 mon-thurs and 9-6 on friday...

The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

Greenawalt Farm

Kew Park Coffee Bar-  We have a fresh batch of beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed grapefruit, tangerine, and orange juices. 

PA Made Cheese-  

The local Haloumi was a big hit last week.  We will have some more available this week. 

This is the first of what is hoped to be a series of cheeses using sheep milk.  The cheeses are being made by Sam and Susie Byler from Riverview Dairy.  This initiative was made possible by the "Better Cheese for Pittsburgh" scholarship that was organized and funded by Slow Food Pittsburgh. The Bylers won a $2,500 scholarship last year and this provided funding to hire a cheese consultant to help develop the recipes and techniques. They used world renowned cheese Consultant Peter Dixon from Vermont.

To make sheep milk cheese happen, the Bylers needed access to sheep milk.  So they partnered with their neighbor, Aaron Schwartz who purchased a herd last fall.  The sheep are now producing milk, so the cheese is beginning to be made. Aaron is one of the leading farmers in Clarion River Organics.

Haloumi is a cheese that is traditionally made with half sheep, and half goat milk.  Its originally from Cyprus, but is very popular throughout Europe.  There is apparently not enough sheep and goat milk in Cyprus to meet the full demand, so they have begun making it with cows milk.  That has caused a whole controversy and debate in Europe about the standards for making Haloumi.  Thankfully, the Bylers are making it the traditional way, with sheep and goat milk. So no controversy here.

Haloumi is a very unique cheese as it does not melt, kind of like Indian Paneer cheese.  It's usually prepared by either grilling or cooking in a skillet after brushing it with olive oil.  It is then served with salad greens or vegetables.  I found some recipes on the web.  Check them out:

http://www.veggienumnum.com/2010/01/pan-fried-halloumi-salad/

http://www.squidoo.com/101-halloumi-recipes

This is really exciting news as this new cheese is the result of such a collaborative process.  We are honored that PA Made Cheese was able to help support the development of this cheese and will help in the sale and promotion of it.  I am heading up to visit with the Bylers this weekend to discuss the production of other sheep milk cheese that will require lengthy aging.

California Connection-

The dried fruit that I obtained from Bella Viva Orchards has been a real hit.  They grow some amazing fruit and have developed great expertise in processing and drying fruit.  I now have dried Rainier cherries and dried Pluots.  Pluots are a cross between plums and apricots.  The dried version is very soft, and sweet but tart.

In the olive oil department, I just received a fresh shipment of 2013 vintage oils.  Please stop by and try them.

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

BANDY Woodworks will have children's toys and games, and great items for the home and office using local reclaimed and salvaged wood and non-toxic finishes.  Cutting boards and wine racks make a great Valentine's gift for the foodie on your list!  Their booth is on the right when you walk in the front door from N. Sheridan, directly across from Greenawalt's.  Preview some of the items carried at the market by visiting  www.bandywoodworks.etsy.com.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, March 16th

Saint Patty's Day is upon us.  The market will have some great items for any St.  Patty's Day celebration.

Please see below for an exciting local cheese update- locally made Haloumi cheese will be available starting this Saturday.

See you at the market- David Lagnese

******************************************************************************************
The Update....

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

Special items for this week....

• PICKLED CORNED BEEF

• TOP ROUND CUT FOR BEEF STEW

• ROLLED RUMP. AND SHOULDER/ARM ROASTS

• BEEF SHANKS FOR SOUP

• MANY SAUSAGE VARIETIES

**please keep phone call orders and any messages to ring in during our business hours of 9-9 mon-thurs and 9-6 on friday...

The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

Greenawalt Farm

Kew Park Coffee Bar-  We have a fresh batch of beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed grapefruit, tangerine, and orange juices. 

PA Made Cheese-  

The special event last week offering cheese from Cow Girl Creamery was a great success.  All of the Mt. Tam and Red Hawk sold out quickly.  We have a bit of the Wagon Wheel left for this Saturday.

But the big news for this week is the introduction of locally made Haloumi cheese to Pittsburgh.  This is the first of what is hoped to be a series of cheeses using sheep milk.  The cheeses are being made by Sam and Susie Byler from Riverview Dairy.  This initiative was made possible by the "Better Cheese for Pittsburgh" scholarship that was organized and funded by Slow Food Pittsburgh. The Bylers won a $2,500 scholarship last year and this provided funding to hire a cheese consultant to help develop the recipes and techniques. They used world renowned cheese Consultant Peter Dixon from Vermont.

To make sheep milk cheese happen, the Bylers needed access to sheep milk.  So they partnered with their neighbor, Aaron Schwartz who purchased a herd last fall.  The sheep are now producing milk, so the cheese is beginning to be made. Aaron is one of the leading farmers in Clarion River Organics.

Haloumi is a cheese that is traditionally made with half sheep, and half goat milk.  Its originally from Cyprus, but is very popular throughout Europe.  There is apparently not enough sheep and goat milk in Cyprus to meet the full demand, so they have begun making it with cows milk.  That has caused a whole controversy and debate in Europe about the standards for making Haloumi.  Thankfully, the Bylers are making it the traditional way, with sheep and goat milk. So no controversy here.

Haloumi is a very unique cheese as it does not melt, kind of like Indian Paneer cheese.  It's usually prepared by either grilling or cooking in a skillet after brushing it with olive oil.  It is then served with salad greens or vegetables.  I found some recipes on the web.  Check them out:

http://www.veggienumnum.com/2010/01/pan-fried-halloumi-salad/

http://www.squidoo.com/101-halloumi-recipes

This is really exciting news as this new cheese is the result of such a collaborative process.  We are honored that PA Made Cheese was able to help support the development of this cheese and will help in the sale and promotion of it.  I am heading up to visit with the Bylers this weekend to discuss the production of other sheep milk cheese that will require lengthy aging.

California Connection-

The dried fruit that I obtained from Bella Viva Orchards has been a real hit.  They grow some amazing fruit and have developed great expertise in processing and drying fruit.  I now have dried Rainier cherries and dried Pluots.  Pluots are a cross between plums and apricots.  The dried version is very soft, and sweet but tart.

In the olive oil department, I just received a fresh shipment of 2013 vintage oils.  Please stop by and try them.

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

BANDY Woodworks will have children's toys and games, and great items for the home and office using local reclaimed and salvaged wood and non-toxic finishes.  Cutting boards and wine racks make a great Valentine's gift for the foodie on your list!  Their booth is on the right when you walk in the front door from N. Sheridan, directly across from Greenawalt's.  Preview some of the items carried at the market by visiting  www.bandywoodworks.etsy.com.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, March 9th

Hi everyone.  Just a quick update for this week.  The items offered from the farmers- Zang, Kistaco and Greenawalts- will be very very similar to last week's offerings.  See below for details.  I have updated the meat offerings for the J.L. Kennedy Meat stand.

At PA Made Cheese, we have a fresh shipment of goat cheese from Riverview Dairy.  We also have a special shipment of organic cows milk cheese from Cow Girl Creamery in California- Mt Tam and Red Hawk.  This is a one time event.  We  were able to get this shipment as a result of my recent visit to California and meeting the owner of Cowl Girl Creamery.

See you at the market- David Lagnese

******************************************************************************************
The Update....

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

Special items for this week....

- EXTRA-LEAN GROUND TURKEY
- BONELESS PORK SHOULDER cut to order

PLUS-

- BEEF BACON
- BEEF JERKY
- BEEF STICKS

**please place order for your st. patty 's day pickled corned beef - available on sat. march 16th

**please place your EASTER order a.s.a.p. for sat, march 30th... deposit required for all ham and lamb orders

**please keep phone call orders and any messages to ring in during our business hours of 9-9 mon-thurs and 9-6 on friday...

The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

Greenawalt Farm

Kew Park Coffee Bar-  We have a fresh batch of beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed grapefruit, tangerine, and orange juices.  We are on the last box of tangerines so get it while you can. 

PA Made Cheese-   Hopefully you were able to meet Dale and Martha Liveremore from The Ark Farm in Jefferson County, PA when they visited the market a few weeks ago.  The Livermores manage a herd of about 100 grass-fed sheep, and also operate a creamery that makes sheep milk cheese.  We liked the Livermores (and their cheese) so much that we will begin selling their cheese starting this week.

Check out their website at:  http://www.thearkfarm.com/index.html

When I was in California I met Peggy Smith, one of the founders of Cow Girl Creamery.  They are a world class creamery that were pioneers on the artisinal cheese industry in our country.  They operate a cheese chop at the Ferry Building market in San Francisco.  The cheese is fabulous.  Although I am committed focusing on locally made cheeses at PA Made Cheese I do want to occasionally share other cheeses at the market, and with our local cheese makers.  I call them "inspiration" cheeses in the hopes that our local cheese makers might start making similar styles. I have made arrangements with Cow Girl Creamery to have some of their fabulous cheese shipped in to the market.  It will be here in a few weeks.  Learn more about Cow Girl Creamery at:  http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com

California Connection- In addition to my visit with Cow Girl, I also had the opportunity to visit the Van Dyke Ranch in Gilroy, California.  I get most of my dried fruit from Van Dyke. I was able to meet Peter Van Dyke, the owner of the farm and got a great tour of the entire operation.  The farm is in a beautiful location, right next to a mountain.  This is kind of a quite time of year at the farm as there are not even blossoms on the trees.  Peter explained that this is the time of year when they prune and maintain the trees.  Peter keeps the farm organic so there are very specific methods that are used.  He explained that the cherry trees are nearing the end of their product life cycle, so he is getting ready to pull them out and plant new trees.  It will take about 5 years to complete the process of replacing the trees.  It was really great to meet Peter and gain a better understanding of the care that goes into growing and processing his fruit.

I also established a relationship with a new fruit grower- Bella Viva Orchards.  They grow some amazing fruit and have developed great expertise in processing and drying fruit.  I now have some dried Rainier cherries and dried Pluots for sale at the market.  Pluots are a cross between plums and apricots.  The dried version is very soft, and sweet but tart.

Finally I visited an olive farm in Gilroy.  I met the owner and toured the milling facility and the olive grove.  The farmers name is Jeff Martin.  He calls his farm Frantoio Grove.  He has about 3,000 trees, all of the Frantoio variety.  He recently purchased a Pieralisi olive mill.  This is a huge investment for a single farmer to make.  Its also a big deal because it means that the olives can be processed very quickly after harvest.  This produces a very high quality olive oil.  It is a very impressive operation and the oil is excellent.  I will have it for sale at the market next week.

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

BANDY Woodworks will have children's toys and games, and great items for the home and office using local reclaimed and salvaged wood and non-toxic finishes.  Cutting boards and wine racks make a great Valentine's gift for the foodie on your list!  Their booth is on the right when you walk in the front door from N. Sheridan, directly across from Greenawalt's.  Preview some of the items carried at the market by visiting  www.bandywoodworks.etsy.com.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.

Update for Saturday, March 2nd

We had a real nice crowd at the market last Saturday.  Thanks to everyone for coming out on the last Saturday of February. 

With this being the first Saturday of March, it makes me hopeful that spring weather is just around the corner.  Please see below for the weekly update.

See you at the market- David Lagnese

******************************************************************************************
The Update....

J.L Kennedy Meat Stand

Special items for this week....

- BONELESS PORK SHOULDER cut to order
- BABY BACK PORK RIBS

**please order your pickled corn beef for pick up on sat  march 16 th... it is always a sell-out item and of course is limited -as are all these wonderful local products  for st patt's day...

**please keep phone call orders and any messages to ring in during our business hours of 9-9 mon-thurs and 9-6 on friday...
 
The number at the farm is 724-898-2316.

Greenawalt Farm

Kew Park Coffee Bar-  We have a fresh batch of beans that were roasted by Commonplace Coffee Roasters.  Also, will have fresh squeezed grapefruit, tangerine, and orange juices.  We are on the last box of tangerines so get it while you can. 

PA Made Cheese-   Hopefully you were able to meet Dale and Martha Liveremore from The Ark Farm in Jefferson County, PA when they visited the market a few weeks ago.  The Livermores manage a herd of about 100 grass-fed sheep, and also operate a creamery that makes sheep milk cheese.  We liked the Livermores (and their cheese) so much that we will begin selling their cheese starting this week.

Check out their website at:  http://www.thearkfarm.com/index.html

When I was in California I met Peggy Smith, one of the founders of Cow Girl Creamery.  They are a world class creamery that were pioneers on the artisinal cheese industry in our country.  They operate a cheese chop at the Ferry Building market in San Francisco.  The cheese is fabulous.  Although I am committed focusing on locally made cheeses at PA Made Cheese I do want to occasionally share other cheeses at the market, and with our local cheese makers.  I call them "inspiration" cheeses in the hopes that our local cheese makers might start making similar styles. I have made arrangements with Cow Girl Creamery to have some of their fabulous cheese shipped in to the market.  It will be here in a few weeks.  Learn more about Cow Girl Creamery at:  http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com

California Connection- In addition to my visit with Cow Girl, I also had the opportunity to visit the Van Dyke Ranch in Gilroy, California.  I get most of my dried fruit from Van Dyke. I was able to meet Peter Van Dyke, the owner of the farm and got a great tour of the entire operation.  The farm is in a beautiful location, right next to a mountain.  This is kind of a quite time of year at the farm as there are not even blossoms on the trees.  Peter explained that this is the time of year when they prune and maintain the trees.  Peter keeps the farm organic so there are very specific methods that are used.  He explained that the cherry trees are nearing the end of their product life cycle, so he is getting ready to pull them out and plant new trees.  It will take about 5 years to complete the process of replacing the trees.  It was really great to meet Peter and gain a better understanding of the care that goes into growing and processing his fruit.

I also established a relationship with a new fruit grower- Bella Viva Orchards.  They grow some amazing fruit and have developed great expertise in processing and drying fruit.  I now have some dried Rainier cherries and dried Pluots for sale at the market.  Pluots are a cross between plums and apricots.  The dried version is very soft, and sweet but tart.

Finally I visited an olive farm in Gilroy.  I met the owner and toured the milling facility and the olive grove.  The farmers name is Jeff Martin.  He calls his farm Frantoio Grove.  He has about 3,000 trees, all of the Frantoio variety.  He recently purchased a Pieralisi olive mill.  This is a huge investment for a single farmer to make.  Its also a big deal because it means that the olives can be processed very quickly after harvest.  This produces a very high quality olive oil.  It is a very impressive operation and the oil is excellent.  I will have it for sale at the market next week.

The Greek Gourmet- will have homemade spinach and meat pies at the market each week- in addition to 20+ flavors of hummus.  Stop by and talk to Jack at the booth.

BANDY Woodworks will have children's toys and games, and great items for the home and office using local reclaimed and salvaged wood and non-toxic finishes.  Cutting boards and wine racks make a great Valentine's gift for the foodie on your list!  Their booth is on the right when you walk in the front door from N. Sheridan, directly across from Greenawalt's.  Preview some of the items carried at the market by visiting  www.bandywoodworks.etsy.com.

*****************************************************
Visit the market's website for information on the market and all the vendors.  You can sign up for a weekly email update.

http://www.farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com/

Also,  check out the video about the market produced by Ths folks at East Liberty Development (ELDI).  It was directed and produced by local film maker Michael Pisano. So a great big thanks Michael and ELDI's Margaret Graham  for producing the video. So please check out the video and share it with others.

*********************************************************

The Farmers' Market Cooperative of East Liberty is located at 344 North Sheridan Ave., adjacent to the Home Depot parking lot.  The market operates year round- and is open from 5 AM until 12 noon every Saturday of the year.